PESTICIDES

PEST
• Pest is any animal , plant or micro-organism that causes trouble ,
injuries (Economic damage) or destruction to plants or crops.
• The common pests includes:
Insects
Bacteria
Fungi
rats (rodents)
weeds.
 PESTICIDE
• A pesticide is any toxic substance used to kill animals or plants that
causes economic damage to crop or ornamental plants.
• All pesticides interfere with normal metabolic processes in the pest
organisms and often are classified according to the type of organism
they are intended to control, viz. fungicides, herbicides, insecticides,
rode ii tic ides, molluscacides, nematocides and fumigants.
• As pesticides are poisonous therefore they should be used under the
supervision of qualified person e.g. Pharmacist who has the
knowledge about certain things :
• Method of application
• Type of application
• Signs & symptoms of poisoning
• Emergency treatment if the poisoning has occurred.
Types of Pests
 Types of Pests

• Rodents are mammals like rat, mouse, rabbit and monkey, which have
sharp gnawing incisor teeth.
• In some stores the crude drugs are often contaminated due to fecal
pallets and hair from the fur of rats and mice.
• Rodents are responsible for transmitting diseases from which they are
suffering.
• Biting of a rat causes rat-bite fever, an infectious disease caused by
microorganisms.
• A large number of lice infected rodents transmit typhus fever, bubonic
plague, and rat leprosy.
 Arthropods
• Arthropods are the insects, spiders. ticks, mites, and lice. Some of
these cause discomfort only, while others cause fatal diseases.
• Insects represent the class of the phylum Arthropoda and according to
their mouth parts they are divided into two morphologic groups
1. biting and chewing,
2. piercing and sucking.
• The insects of the first category are dependant on the leaves and stems
of plants.
• They are present in excess number to strip a cultivated field.
• Grasshoppers and locusts destroy the crop during the developmental
process and after maturity stage.
• Most of the insects possess a piercing-sucking modification of mouth
parts with which they penetrate into the epidermal tissues of plant
organs and suck the juice from the soft tissues.
 Weeds

• Any undesirable plant is known as weed. A weed may be a dandelion in a

lawn, a thistle plant (Gokhru) in a vegetable garden, or mustard in a clove
field.
• Undesirable plants In gardens interfere in the growth of cultivated plants by
consuming most of the available water contents and minerals of the soil.
• A considerable number of weeds are toxic in nature. Corn cockle.
Agostemma githago, contains a cyanophore type of glycoside, and its seeds
cause death when they are present in excessive quantities in wheat flour.
• A large number of plants give rise to allergic reactions in certain individuals.
 Fungi Parasitic on Plants

• Various type of fungi growing on plants produce many diseases such

as wheat rust, white pine blister rust, Dutch elm disease, hollyhock
rust, orange leaf rust of black berries and raspberries, asparagus rust
and rose rust.
• Various fungicides and chemical agents are available for the control of
fungus disease.
• Precaution is taken from the beginning of cultivation of a crop.
• The seeds should be freed of adhering fungus spores before being
planted. It is treated with a suitable fungicide such as Thiram
(tetramethyithiuram disulphide).
• Different type of windborne bacteria and fungi grow on tender shoots.
• They contaminate young ,seedlings and plants growing near these
infected plants.
• In such cases. sprays or fungicidal dusts are applied to prevent
germination of the parasitic species.
 METHODS OF PEST CONTROL

• There are two methods available for the control of pest.

 Natural control
 Artificial control
 NATURAL CONTROL

• Topographical influence of the seasons changes, changing

temperatures, rainfall, soil, atmospheric humidity and other
natural factors also shows their effect on insects and their hosts.
 ARTIFICIAL CONTROL

• Artificial control of pest have been developed by man.

• These methods can be categorized as:
 Mechanical
Agricultural
Chemical and Biological methods
 Mechanical control

• By using manual labour as well as mechanical devices for collection

or destruction of pest like hand picking, burning, trapping are
employed for the destruction of eggs, larvae and adult insects.
• Large caterpillers, e.g. a large, green tomato hornworm larva, can be
located rapidly and removed by hand, Weeds are removed by hand-
picking.
• The tent caterpillers gather on branches of trees and shrubs. By
pruning or cutting out such branches is an effective measure.
• If the insect's tent is located near the trunk where cutting is difficult,
then this part is burnt by a torch of burning oil-soaked rags at the end
of a long pole.
• Burning helps in destruction of both animal and plant pests removed
by hand-picking or pruning.
• For determining the spread of certain flying insects in an infected area,
they are trapped by a pleasantly flavored attractant placed ,in funnel-
shaped containers.
• Anise oil, Rose o or other attractants are mixed with sawdust and
placed in glass containers over which a funnel-shaped entrance has
been fitted.
• The insects fly or crawl through the opening into the jar. Japanese
beetles, gypsy moth, codling moth, etc. are located by this method.
 Agriculture control
• It is the oldest method.
• It includes deep ploughing for eradication of weeds and early stages of
insects.
• Chemical control
• Chemical agents are used for killing pests or for protecting crops,
animals or other properties against the attack of the pest. Like DDT,
BHC, Alderin, Endrin
 Biological control

• Biological control by using plant or animal materials for controlling

many harmful pests
• Like insect hormones( Ecdysone and Juvenile)
• Insects are eaten by birds
 Classification of pesticides
Pesticides are classified according to the pest they control
• Insecticides (Ants, moths, cockroaches)
• Herbicides (Weeds)
• Fungicides (Control fungal diseases)
• Rodenticides (Rats)
 Mechanism of action of pesticides

• Broad categories as
1. Stomach poisons:
• Kill by being taken into stomach, absorbed in the blood and leads to
the death of the pest due to the toxic action.
2. Contact insecticides
• Kill by direct or indirect contact with the insect or sometimes it
penetrates inside the body and causes oxidation and suffocates the
insect.
3. Fumigants
• Can be applied only in enclosed areas where it surrounds the insect,
enters their breathing pores and kills.
• Advantages:
• They are cheap (They are economical)
• They are less harmful to the human beings and more effective against
pest
• They are more stable and can be kept for prolonged period (Degradation
is less).
• They can be used to control the carriers of vector borne diseases like
malarial, sleeping sickness and dengue fever.
 Disadvantages
• The onset of action is slow.
• The quantity of pesticide required may be more due to crude
components.
 Natural Pesticides
• Pyrethrum Flower
• Neem leaves and oil
• Tobacco leaves
• Nuxvomica seed
• Sabadilla seeds
• Ryania root stem Derris root and rhizome
 Pyrethrum
• Synonyms
• Natural pyrethrum, insect flowers
 Biological source
• Pyrethrum consists of more or less fully expanded flower heads of
Chrysanthenium cinerarifolium
Family
• Compositae
• Chemical constituents
• Active constituents are Pyrethrins, which are organic esters,
chemicals made up of carboxylic acid and keto alcohols.
• The main constituents are Pyrethrin I and II. It also contains Cinerin I
and II, Jasmoline I and II
I.P. Standards
• Pyrethrum should contain not more than 5% of naturally adhering stems.
• Ash: Not more than 8%
• Acid insoluble ash - Not more than 1%
Uses
• Used as insecticide
• Contact poison
• The Pyrethrum flowers are a contact poison for Insects. They are largely
used in the form of powder, but sprays In which the active principles are
dissolved In kerosene or other organic solvent.
• It can cause severe allergic dermatitis and systemic allergic reactions.
Large amounts may cause nausea, vomiting, tinnitus, headaches and
other CNS disturbances.
• Pyrethrum extract is mixed with other insecticides ( like DDT •
(Dichloro-diphenyl-trichloro-ethane), Sulfoxides etc) which increase
the action of pyrethrum.
Other varieties
• Chrysanthemum coccineum
• Chrysanthemum marschalli
 Tobacco
Synonyms
• Tamaku (Hindi)
Biological source
• Tobacco consists of the dried leaves of Nicotiana tobacum and Nicotiana rustica
 Family
• Solanaceae
Chemical constituents
• It contains pyridine alkaloids. The main constituent is Nicotine, Nicotyrine,
Nicotimine, Anabasine, Anatabine
• It also contains carbohydrates, Sucrose, starch, pectin, cellulose, lignins and
pentoses
 Uses

• Sedative,
• Antispasmodic,
• Veterinary anthelmintic,
• Used in smoking and agriculture insecticide
 Neem
Synonyms
• Hindi- Nim, Malayalam- Veppa
 Biological source
• It consists of fresh leaves of the plant known as Azadirachta indica
 Family
• Meliaceae
 Chemical constituents
• It contains bitter principle Nimbidin, complex liminoid compound named
azadirachtin, meliantrol and salanin etc.
 
 Uses
• The bark of neem tree is a good bitter tonic, used in malarial fever,
and in skin diseases, used as an insect repellent.
• Insecticide, nematicide and antimicrobial properties.
• Seed oil possesses spermicidal activity.
 DERRIS

Biological source
• It consists of dried root and rhizomes of Derris elliptica and Derris malaccensis
Family
• Leguminosae
Chemical constituents
• It contains isoflavonoid derivative Rotenone • Tephrosin • Toxicarol • Degnelin
Uses
• Contact poison
• Used in the form of spray for killing vegetable insects during harvesting time
such as leaf hopper
 SABADILLA
Biological source
• It consists of dried ripe seeds of Schoenocaulon officinale
Family
• Liliaceae
Chemical constituents
It contains
• Sabadine, • Cevadine ( Veratrine), • Eratridine, • Sabadilline and • Cavadine
Uses
• It is an insecticide used to kill house flies and bugs in the form of spray or dust
 RYANIA

Biological source
• It consists of dried root and stems of Ryania speciosa
Family
• Flacourtiaceae
Chemical constituents
• Alkaloid i.e Ryanodine
Uses
• Insecticide
 NUXVOMICA
Biological source
• Nux-vomica consists of the dried, ripe seeds of Strychnos nux-vomica
Family
• Loganiaceae
Active constituents
• It contains about 1-5% of bitter alkaloids ( Indole alkaloids ).
• The chief constituents of alkaloids are Strychnine, Brucine, vomicine,
pseudostrychinine,
• It contains not less than 1.2% of strychnine.
• Glycoside – Monoterpene glycoside - Loganin, Fixed oil - 2 - 4 %
 Uses
• Spinal cord stimulant.
• In cases of neurasthenia (excessive fatigue of neurotic origin).
• As a circulatory stimulant.
• Bitter Stomachic (strengthening of stomach and promoting its action).
Synthetic Contact poisons
• Synthetic contact poisons are divided into 4 major groups:
 Organic Sulphur compounds
• Thiuram derivatives
• Mercaptans
• Thiazines
• Organothiocyanates
Halogenated Organic Compounds
• DDT (Dichloro diphenyl trichloromethane)
• DDD (Dichlorodiphenyldichloroethane)
• TDE (Tetrachloro diphenyl ethane)
• BHC (Benzene hexa chloride)
• PCP(Pentochlorophenone)
Synthetic Contact poisons
Non halogenated Organic Compounds
• Allethrin,aldrine,Dialdrine,Toxaphene
• Cinerin– I
• Organic Phosphorus insecticides e.g. Parathione, Malathione, TEPP (Tetra
ethylenepyrophosphate)
Inorganic Compounds
• Arsenicals
• Phosphorus
• Barium Carbonate
• Zinc sulphate etc.
 Synthetic Contact poisons

DichloroDiphenyl Trichloroethane
• In pharmaceutical literature, this compound is known as chlorophenothane. DDT
was discovered during the world war II to protect the soldiers from epidemic
diseases. Initially it was used on large scale but its use was then suspended due to
hazardous effects.
• DDT remains unchanged for years, although it is metabolized by animals, but their
metabolites are also toxic.
Action DDT causes disturbance in Na ion balance thus causing death.
• Other important insecticides related to DDT includes DDTE (Dimethyl
trichloroethane)and DDR (1,2-didecanoylglycerol).
• These agents have also been suspended now due to their severe hazardous effects.
 Synthetic Contact poisons – DDT:
Uses
• Topically it is applied in 5 – 10% concentration in the inert base to
control scabies.
• It was also used in the household sprays for controlling mosquitoes,
adult flies, body lice, bed bugs and cockroaches etc.
• DDT has lipophilic activity , therefore it cross the cuticle easily , goes
to general circulation and causes CNS toxicity .
Synthetic Contact poisons – BHC:

• Benzene hexachloride:
• It was also discovered during World War II but its insecticidal activity
was discovered by French and Germans to protect the army from
insects carrying diseases. Only its γ isomer is active. The material sold
contains 12 – 95% γ isomer . While pure isomer of BHC is considered
as a separate insecticide & available with the name of Lindane. This
isomer is also safer than other isomer because the other isomer
produce a persistant residue on food.
 Uses
• It is used as pediculocides, scabicide. For this purpose it is used in 1%
concentration as dusting powder, ointment, lotion or cream. It has an
objectionable odor so it can’t be used as household spray . Therefore it
is used as spray for crops, animals and garden crops. It has same odour
as DDT but it is superior to DDT b/c it is highly volatile and penetrate
more rapidly into the insects. It is used as stomach poison, contact
poison and as insect repellent.
• Action: it causes imbalance of Na & K ions in nerve membrane which
results in tremors, loss of body coordination, convulsion and
ultimately death.
Synthetic Contact poisons – PCP

• Pentachlorophenol
• It is usedin5%concentrationin an organic solvent to protect the timber
against Termites and wood rotting fungi.
• It is also used as a soil fertilizer.
Synthetic Contact poisons Methyl
Bromide
• Uses
• It is an effective fumigant & is used for the treatment of starch
products & fresh green vegetables.
• It causes respiratory irritation, therefore the insects leave their nesting
places. It can also be used as soil fertilizer. Other fumigants include
• Hydrocyanic acid gas
• Carbon disulphide
• Ethylene dichloride
• Ethylene dibromide
 Repellents
• The natural product Citronella oil has been used as a mean of
preventing insect attack. The synthetic products include
dimethylphthalate, Ethohexadiol and Butopyronoxyl.
• These compounds are mixed in dimethyl phthalate in ratio of
• Dimethylphthalate 6 parts
• Ethohexadiol 2 parts
• Butopyronoxyl 2 parts
• A synonym for this mixture is 622 mixture.
• Diethyltoluamide is another effective insect repellent.
 Rodenticides

• These are the chemicals which are used to kill the rodents. These
chemicals are used in the form of poison baits. Rodenticides are:
The chief requirements for
These should be toxic in sufficiently small quantity .
These should be acceptable to the rodents.
The rodenticides may be
Natural
Semi synthetic
Synthetic
 Natural Rodenticides – Red squill

Botanical source
• Urginea maritima
• Family:
• Liliaceae
• P . Used:
• Underground shoot
• Preparation:
• The underground shoot is taken, dried, powdered and then active constituents
are extracted with 80% alcohol. The most active compounds in the plant are
scillirosides, especially proscillaridineA.
• Mechanism of Action: This agent is completely safe for all the
domestic and higher animals because these animals possess vomiting
centre which is stimulated after its ingestion and drug is completely
vomited.
• The rodents’vomiting centre is absent. The ingested squill is absorbed
from stomach and goes into the circulation thus causing convulsions
and death may occur due to respiratory failure.
 Natural Rodenticides

Botanical source
• Strychnos nux-vomica
Family
• Loganiaceae
Parts Used:
• Seeds Preparation: It has a bitter taste and is water soluble. It is
available in the form of salts.
• They are used in the form of poison
 Mechanism of Action
• Strychnine causes excitation of all parts of the central nervous system,
It increases the level of neuronal excitability by interfering with
inhibitory influences on the motor neurons.
• The site of action of strychnine is the postsynaptic membrane. The
convulsant action of the substance is due to interference with the
postsynaptic inhibition that is mediated by glycine.
• Glycine is an inhibitory transmitter to motor neurons and interneurons
in the spinal cord. Strychnine acts as a selective competitive antagonist
to block the inhibitory effects of glycine at the glycine receptors.
 Semisynthetic Rodenticides – Warfarin

Botanical source
• Melilotus officinalis(Yellow sweet clover), Melilotusalbus (sweet clover)
Family
• Leguminoseae
Part used
• Whole plant
Preparation
• Chemically warfarin is Bis hydroxy coumarine and is obtained from the
above plants.
 Mechanism of Action

• This leakage of blood from blood vessels, death of rodents occurs.

Warfarin is tasteless, so the rodent eat it until their death.
• They block the synthesis of vitamin K, especially in rodents,
• giving it strong anticoagulatory and rodenticidal properties.
• Death occurs after a period of between several days to two weeks,
usually from internal hemorrhaging.
 Disadvantages

• Some rodents possess more effective gastric flora which produce high
amount of vitamin K which is an antidote for warfarin so these are
proved resistant to warfarin.
• To solve this problem, some antibiotics e.g. Sulfaquinoxaline (proline)
5% concentration is added to this drug, which kills the normal flora
and thus vitamin K production is stopped, hence the warfarin is not
destroyed by the rodents
 Synthetic Rodenticides – Nor bromide:

• It is the first synthetic rodenticide and is effective against all kinds of

rats.
• It is effective in low concentrations and usually with 0.5% solution it
is enough to kill albino rats
 Herbicides or weedicides
• These are the chemicals that are used to control or destroy all the
undesirable plants. As these chemicals are used to destroy plants so
they should be able to enter the cuticle of the plants.
• They are applied as sprays or dusting powders. They are further
classified into two groups:
Selective weedicides These are the chemicals which kill the
undesirable plants and produce little or no effect on desirable plants.
Non selective weedicides These compounds destroy all types of plant
life.
 Herbicides or Weedicides – Selective:

• Selective herbicides are either phenoxy or naphthoxy derivatives of acetic

acid. These are found as acids, inorganic salts, amine salts or esters.
• Prior to application of selective herbicides the following points should be
kept in mind:
1. Choice of chemical
2. Concentration of Pesticide
3. Method of application
4. Type of weed to be controlled
5. Stage of development of plant
 Herbicides or Weedicides – Selective

• The most important selective weedicides include:

2,4 –D
• It is chemically 2,4 dicholorophenoxy acetic acid.
• It was the first selective organic herbicide discovered and is effectively
used in controlling the grasses and broad leaves weeds.
• It is also used as a starting material for production of the other
weedicides e.g.2,4,5– D.
2,4,5–T
• it is chemically 2,4,5 – Trichlorophenoxyacetic acid . It is more effective
than 2,4– D in destroying the woody plants.
2,2– Dichloropropionic acid
• It is available in market with the name of Dalapon it is used effectively as
grass killer.
2 –Amino – 3,5,6–Tricchloropicolinic acid
• It is available in the market with the name of Tordon. It is used effectively
for controlling woody species.
3 –Amino – 1,2,4–Trizol
• In the market it is available in the name of Amino Trizol. It is effectively
used against the broad leaves, weeds and perrineal grasses.
 Herbicides or Weedicides – Non – Selective

• DSMA(Disodium methyl arsenate)

• Disodium Dichloro arsenoate
 Fumigants
• Fumigant is any volatile, poisonous substance that is used to kill
insects, nematodes and other animals or plants that damages to red
foods or seeds, clothing and nursery stock.
• Soil fumigants are sprayed over an area to be cultivated to control
disease causing fungi, nematodes and weeds.
• They are used for controlling a wide range of insects in homes,
industries, ships etc.
• They are used to control pests in grains, soil, living plants or plant
products, fruits, vegetables etc.
• Some, chemically simpler chlorinated hydrocarbons such as
chloroform, p- dichlorobenzene Carbon disulphide and trichloro
ethylene also have insecticidal activity and they are used as fumigants.
They are applied in gaseous form or as an aerosol in enclosed spaces
such as rooms, cup boards, boxes etc.
• These chlorinated hydrocarbons are highly dangerous to man and must
be used with care.
 Fungicides or Antimycotic

• Fungicides are toxic substances used to kill or inhibit the growth of

fungi, molds and yeasts that either cause economic damage or
endanger the health of domestic animals or humans.
• Mostly fungicides are applied as sprays or dust. Seed fungicides are
applied as a protective covering before germination.
• Systemic fungicides are applied to plants where they become
distributed through the tissue and act to eradicate existing disease or to
protect against possible disease.
• A chemical combination of Copper sulphate , lime and water is known
as Bordeaux mixture which is protective fungicide.
• Sulphur is also used to control fungal disease. Lime – sulphur mixture
is fungicide having both protective and eradicant properties. Its
activity is due to calcium polysulphide which is very toxic to the
fungus. Sulphur is mixed with nicotine, pyrethrum extracts and
rotenone to get better results.
• Other examples are Thiocarbamates, Hg compounds, quaternary
ammonium compounds, Nitro& heterocyclic N compounds,
antibiotics, chlorphenols & Formaldehyde etc.